TECH NOW: Innovative gadget gifts

Dec. 16, 2013
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The Coravin System starts at $299. / Coravin

by Jennifer Jolly, Special for USA TODAY

by Jennifer Jolly, Special for USA TODAY

When it comes to innovative gadgets the real game changer gifts this year touch off a whole new world of automation, creation - even imagination. Here are a handful of top gifts of holidays' future that you can buy right now.

1. Piper is a tiny gadget that will revolutionize the way you control virtually every system in your home. On its own, the main Piper unit is capable of surveillance monitoring and motion detection, but when paired with a suite of smart switches and sensors, it can control lights, appliances and monitor your home's temperature, humidity and other vitals. Automation is the future, and the Piper will bring you there for $239.

2. The dog lover in your life is going to adore Whistle. Whistle is an activity monitor that tracks man's best friend during all of their daily routines. Whistle keeps tabs on day-to-day behaviors as well as long-term health changes and trends, and even offers vet insights to ensure long life. It's a dog's life, and it's $99.95.

3. Wine lovers rejoice! The ridiculously cool Coravin System can provide a glass of wine from a bottle without ever actually popping the cork, preserving the freshness of the vessel with zero hassle. Enjoy a rare bottle of wine for years, rather than having to go all-in by opening it in the traditional manner. No more wasted libations, for $299.

4. A smoke alarm is one of the most important devices in any home, so the smarter it is, the better, right? The Nest Protect is the smartest smoke and carbon monoxide out there, with the wits to test itself, speak in a clear human voice, and constantly monitor your home for possible dangers. And don't worry about a burned bag of popcorn - the Protect offers what it calls a "Heads Up" under certain circumstances, such as light smoke in the kitchen, allowing you the opportunity to dismiss a false alarm before the full warning siren is triggered. Smart, for $129.

5. It takes some seriously advanced innovation to give me a good singing voice, and the Singtrix high tech Karaoke machine is pure magic. Using hundreds of professional vocal effects, and natural pitch-correction, it automatically corrects singing foibles and flaws, making you an instant American Idol front-runner in your own living room, for $299.99.

6. Giving a techie twist to everyday goods, products from EVR1 - ranging from tools to notebooks to bow ties - include a physical memory chip with a compilation of humanity's greatest accomplishments. Giving someone you love a keychain imbued with the sum total of human knowledge has never been so easy! Starting at under $50.

7. 3D printers are amazing, but they're also amazingly expensive. The 3Doodler pen lets you get a touch of that same magic for a much less bank-busting price. Using a wide range of colored plastics, the 3Doodler lets you literally draw 3D objects right before your eyes. A new way to create, at just $99, available for pre-order.

8. Give any bike some serious brains by adding a set of Helios Bars. These highly intelligent handlebars sync with your smartphone to include a GPS tracking feature, a ultra-bright headlight, and color-changing LEDs that can even tell you how fast you're going. A cyclist's dream come true, for $279.

9. The Romo iPhone robot can help you with productivity, allowing you to chat face-to-face with someone in a different room, but the real reason to give it as a gift is that it's downright adorable. It's a smart, autonomous robot that you can control via an iOS device, and kids love it, too. The perfect gadget gift, at $149.

Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech contributor and host of USA TODAY's digital video show TECH NOW. E-mail her at techcomments@usatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter: @JenniferJolly.